Let’s learn about humanmade seismic waves
Seismologists are studying human-generated seismic waves caused by large events like Taylor Swift concerts, NFL games, and city lockdowns. These vibrations provide valuable data for engineers to improve building safety and help scientists filter noise from natural earthquake data.
Why it matters
Understanding human-induced seismic activity helps improve urban planning and the accuracy of natural disaster monitoring systems.
Big events can shake the ground — or cause eerie bouts of seismic quiet
Seismologists have measured Earth vibrations generated by dancing Swifties at Eras Tour concerts.
Kate Green/Stringer/Getty Images Entertainment
In August 2023, some 70,000 people flocked to a stadium in Inglewood, Calif., for a Taylor Swift concert. During the show, dancing fans shook the stadium so hard that it created ground vibrations called seismic waves . During one song, those tremors released about as much energy as a minor earthquake .
Many natural events — including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — make seismic waves . But a lot of human activity does, too. The thunderous excitement of that Taylor Swift show was just one case of humanmade vibrations.
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